Fairwood opens as KCLS' newest library

The Fairwood Library opened Saturday, December 6, 2014 with an enthusiastic crowd of more than 500 people turning out to celebrate and tour the long-awaited KCLS facility. Thanks to the $172,000 million library capital bond approved by voters in 2004, the new library is 5,000 square feet larger than its predecessor. It has comprehensive interior and infrastructure renovations, more computers and materials, a community room, quiet study areas, and other features. The library is open 65 hours a week.

KCLS Interim Director Julie Acteson welcomed the morning gathering, followed by comments from KCLS Board President Jessica Bonebright and King County Council member Reagan Dunn (District Nine). Dunn emphasized how important and vital this library is to the Fairwood community, thanking KCLS and the Board of Trustees for all their excellent work. The Fairwood Honor Choir helped kick off the event, and children's singer and song writer Nancy Stewart performed inside the library following the ribbon cutting. Other dignitaries who spoke on behalf of the new library were Fairwood Elementary Principal Tricia Hoyle; Gayle Hayes, President of the Friends of the Fairwood Library, and Walter Schact, Principal at Schact-Aslani Architects, the firm that designed the new 20,000-square-foot facility.

Monthly Updates+-

2014

December
The newly expanded Library re-opened on Saturday December 6. An estimated 500 people turned out for the event, including numerous dignitaries and a local choir. Learn more

November
The Library is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, December 6 at 9:30am.

October
Construction is nearing completion and the Library is set to open to the public Saturday, December 6 at 9:30am.

September
Construction continues and site work includes roofing, electrical and mechanical work. The anticipated completion date is December 2014. A temporary site located in the mall across the street from the library is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access. Learn more

August
Construction continues and site work includes roofing, electrical and mechanical work. The anticipated completion date is November 2014. A temporary site located in the mall across the street from the library is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access. Learn more

July
Construction continues and completion is anticipated by late 2014. A temporary site located in the mall across the street from the library is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access. Learn more

June

Construction continues with completion anticipated in October 2014. Following substantial completion, the library move-in and set-up process will begin. A temporary site located in the mall across the street from the library is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access.

May
Construction continues and recent site work includes interior framing and structural steel work. Construction is scheduled to take approximately 12-13 months, with completion anticipated in October 2014. Following substantial completion, the library move-in and set-up process will begin. A temporary site located in the mall across the street from the library is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access. Learn more

April
Construction continues and recent site work includes framing for the new addition and electrical work. A temporary site is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access. Learn more

March 2014
Construction continues and the expanded library is expected to be completed by late 2014. Current site work includes framing interior walls and floors. A temporary site is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access. Learn more

February 2014
Construction of the 5,000 square foot library expansion project continues and is expected to be completed by late 2014. A temporary site is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access. Learn more

January 2014
Construction work on the 5,000 square foot library expansion project continues and will take approximately one year to complete. A temporary site is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access. Learn more

2013

December 2013
Construction work on the 5,000 square foot library expansion project continues. Recent site work includes interior demolition and replacing the waterline. A temporary site is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access. Learn more

November 2013
Construction work on the 5,000 square foot expansion began in late September and will last approximately one year. Recent site work includes interior demolition and replacing the waterline. A temporary site is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access.

October 2013
Construction work on the 5,000 square foot library expansion began in late September. A temporary site is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access.

September 2013
Construction work is now underway on the 5,000 square foot library expansion after the library closed in mid-September. A temporary site is available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access.

August2013
The construction contract has been awarded to Beisley Inc. Construction. The library will close on Sunday, September 15 at 5pm to begin construction. A temporary site will be available for materials pick-up, public computer use, a small browsing collection and catalog access.

July 2013
The project continues to progress and the building permit has been received. Project bids were due July 22 and a contractor will soon be announced. In preparation for construction to start in the fall, negotiations are underway to secure a temporary site at the shopping center across the street from the library.

June 2013The planning process continues for the 5,000 square foot library expansion project. While King County Department of Development and Environmental Services continues to review permit documents, the project has gone out to bid and negotiations are under way to secure a temporary site at the shopping center across the street from the Library.

May 2013Planning continues for the library expansion project and the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services is currently reviewing permit documents. KCLS staff is planning for temporary services for when construction starts and negotiations are underway to secure a temporary site at the shopping center across the street from the Library.

April 2013Planning continues for the 5,000 square foot library expansion project. Permit documents have been submitted to King County Department of Development and Environmental Services.

March 2013Planning continues for the library expansion project and permit documents were submitted to King County Department of Development and Environmental Services.

February 2013Planning continues for the 5,000 square foot library expansion project. Permit documents have been submitted to King County Department of Development and Environmental Services.

January 2013The planning process continues for the 5,000 square foot library expansion project andpermit documents have been submitted to King County Department of Development and Environmental Services.

2012

December 2012Permit documents have been submitted to King County Department of Development and Environmental Services for the 5,000 square foot library expansion project.

November 2012The planning and design process continues for the 5,000 square foot library expansion project. Permit documents have been submitted to King County Department of Development and Environmental Services.

October 2012The planning and design process continues for the 5,000 square foot library expansion project. Schematic design is completed and permit documents have been submitted to King County Department of Development and Environmental Services.

September 2012The planning and design process continues for the library expansion project. Schematic design has been completed and architects are now working on permit documents.

August 2012Progress continues on the planning process for the library expansion project. Design development was recently completed and project architects are now working on permit documents.

July 2012Progress continues on the planning process for the library expansion project and design development was recently completed. Project architects are now working on permit documents.

June 2012The preliminary designs for the library expansion project were well-received by attendees at a second public meeting on May 30. Design development is now underway.

May 2012
The planning and design process continues and a second public meeting is set for May 30, 6:30pm at the Fairwood Library. The consultant team and KCLS staff will present the current designs and project timeframe.

April 2012
Progress continues on the planning and design process. KCLS and the consultant team will present the current plans and schedule for the project at a second public meeting on May 30.

March 2012Progress continues on the planning and design process to expand the library by 5,000 square feet. The consultant team is responding to comments from the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) as part of the pre-submittal process. Meanwhile, design work continues and a second public meeting will soon be set.

February 2012The planning and schematic design process to expand the Fairwood Library continues. A pre-submittal meeting is scheduled with the project architects and the King County Department of Development & Environmental Services (DDES).

January 2012The schematic design process continues for the expanded Fairwood Library project. The design team is currently working with the Department of Development & Environmental Services (DDES) to determine if a Conditional Use Permit will be required for the project.

2011

December 2011The schematic design process continues for the expanded Fairwood Library. The consultant team gathered feedback on the current plans from the community at a public meeting on December 1.

November 2011Schematic design for the expanded Fairwood Library is well underway. KCLS and its consultant team hosted a public meeting on December 1 at the Fairwood Library to present the current plans and gather feedback from the community.

October 2011The schematic design process continues for the library expansion project. A public meeting to allow residents to review and offer input on the design will be held on Thursday, Dec. 1, 6:30pm at Fairwood Library.

September 2011The design phase has begun and KCLS is conducting initial discussions with the project consultants regarding the goals for redevelopment. The plan is to expand the current library by 5,000 square feet to a total of 20,000 square feet. A property survey was recently completed and is being reviewed by the consultant team for permit and design specifications.

August 2011The design process for the expanded library project began in August, which entailed a property survey, coordination of the consultants and initial discussions about library programs and goals for redevelopment.

July 2011Progress continues on planning for the expanded Fairwood Library. Schact | Aslani Architects were selected to lead the project design and preliminary design work for the library expansion and renovation is now underway.

June 2011The planning process continues for the library expansion and renovation project. After receiving bids and interviewing the finalists, Schact | Aslani Architects was selected to lead the expansion and renovation project.

May 2011The planning process continues for the 5,000 square foot library expansion project. The project bids were due in April and KCLS received submittals from 11 architect and engineering teams. Interviews were scheduled for May 25, 2011.

April 2011
The planning process is underway for the 5,000 square-foot library expansion project. Bids for project consultants were due April 26 and a list of finalists will be selected for interviews.